Super Easy Yard Ghosts DIY For Halloween Decorations

We have some fun creative yard ghosts DIY projects for you to create with your family.  

There are many different types of yard ghosts that you can easily create.  When making homemade Halloween decorations you can make what you want with your own creative idea.

15  Awesome Yard Ghosts DIY

#1  Wire Tomato Cage Ghost with Styrofoam Ball Head

Use a wire tomato cage to create this fun and easy ghost.

I will share with you the many different versions of this DIY ghost that you can create.  They will look great near your front door or on your porch where they won’t get wet.

Items Needed

Wire tomato cage

White sheet or white fabric

String lights 

Mini battery-operated lights or fairy lights

Black felt or black duct tape or whatever black material you want to use for facial features

Styrofoam ball

Zip-tie/cable tie or twist ties

Glue – Hot glue, regular glue or spray adhesive

Steps to make your tomato cage yard ghosts diy 

Step 1

First, turn the tomato cage upside down, it will become the body of the ghost.  

• The 3 prongs poking upward will need to be tied together for this ghost.  Use your zip-tie/cable tie or strong twist tie to secure the wire piece together.

Step 2

Strand the string lights up and down in the middle of your tomato cage.  

• This is optional, I liked not having the lights inside for some of the ghosts I made.

Step 3

Place the styrofoam ball on the top of the wire and push it down to secure it. 

•  If you don’t want to use a styrofoam ball be sure to look down below at your other great and maybe cheaper options.

Step 4

Cut your material to the desired length to fit your tomato cage or just use it as is.  

• I used an old white sheet and didn’t bother with cutting it.  

Next, put your white material over the tomato cage with the styrofoam ball intact. 

• If the material is too long you can bunch it up underneath the bottom of the material.  If it is too short you will see the bottom of the cage.

Step 5

Now cut out your facial features for the ghost. 

• If using black duct tape you can then stick it directly to your white material.  
• When using black felt or another type of material, have glue to make them stick.  I personally used an old black curtain.
• Black construction paper works but I would use that on indoor ghosts since any moisture on paper will destroy them.
• Giant googly eyes would be fun to use as well. 
• Or use a black Sharpie or black craft paint to draw your eyes.

Step 6

Glue your facial features down onto your white material with spray adhesive or any glue that will hold the material down.  

Step 7 

The last step is to put your newly made ghost in the desired location on your front porch or in your yard.  Plug it in, turn on your light-up ghost, and see how well it turned out.

Other Variations To The Tomato Cage Ghost

These ideas are to help you make some cute or spooky DIY yard ghosts without a styrofoam ball.  

• When I was shopping for a big styrofoam ball I had no idea how much they have gone up in price.  It is absolutely ridiculous to me how much they cost now. The cheapest big (8”) styrofoam ball I found was $15 at Walmart and in a 2-pack from Amazon for $27.  For this reason, I came up with some alternate ways for the head.
• I don’t know about you but I don’t want to pay that much for them.  So I have found some alternate ways to make some tomato cage DIY yard ghosts without them.

#2  Use a Cheap Plastic Flower/Plant Pot for the Head of your Tomato Cage Ghost.

• Although a white planter pot is best, I did use colored ones and it worked fine.
• Use plastic planter pots that you have around the house, or hopefully you can find some discounted ones at this time of the year.  Check Dollar Tree, Dollar General, and Walmart for cheap ones.  Try to use an 8 ” pot or around that size.

With this ghost, you don’t need to tie the 3 prongs together.  Simply place the planter pot over the top of the 3 prongs and it will stay.  

Just as above do all the other steps to make the tomato cage ghosts.

#3  Use a Cheap Plastic Flower/Plant Pot with a Mask for the Head of your Tomato Cage Ghost.

Put a skeleton mask, Halloween hockey mask, or another mask on the plant pot and then put the sheet over those to create a fun look. 

• As a result, it will give a facial look depending on what it looks like through the material.  
• Add some battery-operated mini lights in the mask so the eyes will glow.   As a result with this ghost, you really don’t need to add black facial features. Or even lights through the cage, it looks creepy as is with the lights in the mask glowing.
• Next tape the lights to the mask so they will stay in place to light up the eyes, nose and mouth.

#4  Use a Pumpkin Pail as the Head of your Homemade Ghosts for Outside.

Similarly, follow the steps above.

#5  Use a Manikin Head or Styrofoam Head.  

• You can buy a cheap styrofoam skeleton head at the dollar tree but it really is a little too small.  
• A styrofoam head at Walmart is a lot cheaper than a styrofoam ball and would work.  
• Or if you happen to have a manikin head lying around the house use it.  My daughter was in cosmetology school so we had a manikin head easily available.

With the styrofoam head or manikin head, you do want to secure the 3 prongs together as mentioned in the steps to make your DIY tomato cage ghost.  For a manikin, you want to make sure that you secure the prongs together where they can fit inside the hole on the bottom of the manikin head.

In the same way as the other ghosts just throw on a sheet and your facial features and then you have your simple Halloween decor.

#6  Plant Stand Yard Ghosts DIY

This is another simple way to create your cute or spooky ghost.

Items Needed:

Small rounded plant stand

Basketball or another ball similar in size

Light strands if wanted

White sheet or white material

Black material facial features

Steps to Make

Step 1  

Simply put a ball on the top round shelf of your plant stand.  I used a basketball but a soccer, volleyball, or beach ball would work.

Step 2  

Next string lights around it if you want it to light up. This is optional.

Step 3  

Drape white material over the whole thing.

Step 4  

Last make your facial features with black fabric and glue them on or draw them on with a black Sharpie or a small paintbrush with black paint.

Now you have an easy ghost to put in your front yard.

#7 How to Make a DIY Yard Ghost With an Old Tripod

Items Needed:

Old tripod 

Empty gain flings container, Tide pods laundry detergent container, an empty protein powder container, milk jug, or a plastic pumpkin bucket.

A white new or old sheet – or get one from a second-hand shop.

Drill or skinny screwdriver 

Zip-ties or cable ties

Steps to Make:

Step 1  

First, take off the label of your container so it won’t show through the material.  You will use the container as the head.

Step 2  

Next, turn the container over and make a hole big enough for the tip of the tripod to go through.  This will keep the container in place.  Make sure the hole isn’t too big as you don’t want it to poke all the way through.  Just enough to keep in position.

Step 3  

Throw a sheet over the whole thing and position it how you like it.

Step 4  

last but not least, add your black material facial features and you’re done.

#8  How to Make a DIY Yard Ghost with PVC Pipe or Rebar.  Holding Hands Lawn Ghosts   

Items Needed:

Rebar or PVC pipe

Hammer

Small white trash bags

Large white 15-gallon garbage bag

Zip ties and or clear packing tape or double-sided tape (I prefer white zip ties)

Lightweight lantern lights are optional

Steps to Make:

Step 1  

First, choose what lengths of rebar you would like to use for your ghosts. However if using PVC pipe then cut it to your desired lengths.

Step 2

Second, hammer the PVC pipe or rebar into the ground where you want your ghosts to go.

Step 3

Next, use a large 15-gallon white trash bag or if you want creepier ghosts you could use black trash bags.  Stuff in small plastic grocery bags to make the head of the ghost

• Depending on the length of rebar or PVC pipe you can make big or small ghosts. 

Step 4

Attach the head part to the rebar or PVC pipe with a zip tie or clear tape and secure on.

• Dollar Tree has some plastic skulls that would work well for the head as long as they are lightweight.  However, if using a plastic skull you will need to cut a small hole in the base of the skull that the rebar can go into.  
• In this case, I was fine just using grocery bags for the head.

Step 5

Tie a small trash back around the upper body of the ghost.  So this will create arms.  Use the picture as a reference.

Step 6

Use zip ties to tie the hands to the next ghost to make them look like they are holding hands. 

• Add a lightweight lantern to their arms for a cute look. 

Step 7

Last but not least add on your facial features to complete your ghosts or leave them faceless.

These yard ghosts diy decorations would be cute to line a walkway holding hands or even circling a tree.

In addition, if you want to add an extra fun look, put a fog machine nearby to make it creepy or scary.

#9  Smaller Ghosts in a Base.  

These are super easy to make with simple materials.  

Items Needed:

A base for balloons to stick into.  A cardboard box or cardboard insert is a cheap easy choice.

Small styrofoam balls or small balloons.

Zip ties

Balloon sticks with plastic balloon base

White batting material (used for quilts or use other lightweight materials)

Black material facial features or googly eyes

Black spray paint – if you want to change the cardboard color

Steps to make:

Step 1

Begin with a base to use. Any base that you can poke holes through to hold your balloon sticks will work.  

• Spray-paint it black for a creepy look.  
• The base I’m using is a cardboard insert for a box that was used to ship glass bottles.

Step 2

Second, blow up your balloon and attach it to the plastic balloon piece and stick.  

• Or if using a styrofoam ball like I did, just put it on top of the plastic base, and glue it down if wanted but if not you can just hold it on the plastic and continue with the next step.

Step 3

Drape over a piece of white material.  

Step 4

Next, use a small zip tie or rubber band to secure the head and sheet together.

Step 5

Add some cute googly eyes or some black material facial features.  

• Let your kids cut out and make the eyes and mouth for your ghosts.  Your kids will love making these small cute ghosts and can be a family fun activity.

Step 6

Finally, poke the newly made ghost sticks into your base.

As a result, these are cute little ghosts that will wobble around a little in the wind.  I would suggest these should be put on the front porch unless in a waterproof base. Of course, you could always use these as indoor decorations as well.

#10.  Hanging Halloween Ghost Decorations DIY with a Paper Lantern and Garden Stake

Items Needed:

Paper lanterns (can be found at the dollar store)

White cheap shower liner (dollar store) or tall kitchen trash bag

Black material for facial features

Garden stake

Steps to Make:

Step 1  

First, put the garden stake into a pot.  Place it where it won’t get wet like on a front porch.  All in all the shower liner should help keep water off of the paper lantern but some water could still get through the small holes at the top.

Step 2  

Second, assemble the paper lantern.  But leave it off the hook for now. 

Step 3  

Next, put the white shower liner or trash bag over the lantern.

Step 4  

Now put the hook back on, you shouldn’t need to make holes through the liner to attach the hook.  

Step 5  

Glue on the facial features that you create.

Step 6  

Last but not least, If your paper lantern has a tea light in the bottom that is an added plus to turn on and light the head up.

#11 Hanging Skull Ghosts

A hanging skull ghost would be cute to hang on your front porch or from a tree. This is a very easy way to make outdoor Halloween decorations.

Items Needed:

Plastic skull from the dollar store

Fishing line

White shower curtain, plastic table cover, tulle, or a creepy cloth

Drill to make holes in the skull

Thick bendable wire like thick floral wire or jewelry wire – I used 18 gauge jewelry wire

A hanger

Wire cutters

Pliers

2 plastic arms with hands (found at the dollar store)

Steps to Make:

Step 1

First, use a drill to make a small hole in the plastic skull. Make one on the bottom of the skull and then on the top.

Step 2

Second, use the wire cutters to cut the hanger in half on the bottom part of the hanger. (Where you would hang pants from)

Step 3

Third, using the pliers bend the top of the hanger, the hook part, to make it straight.

Step 4

Next, use some of the thick wire and twist it around the top of the hanger that you just bent. Make sure that it is attached securely and extends about 8 inches above the hanger.

Step 5

Now push that wire up through the bottom of the skull and then out the top hole. Make a closed circle with the wire at the top of the skull. Twist it to secure it and use it to hang with.

Step 6

Bend the wire hanger back on each side so you are forming shoulders and arms. At each end you will attach the plastic arms/hands. Furthermore, you may need to reference the picture if you are having a hard time understanding.

Step 7

Use the hanger to make a hole in the back of the arm. Similarly, you could use a drill if really careful but then you risk the chance of drilling through both sides of the arm. For this reason, I used the hanger but any other sharp pointed object would work. It takes some pressure and wiggle movement with the hanger end to make a hole, but it really wasn’t too hard.

Step 8

Push the wire through the arm and out the small hole you made. And then bend up the end of the wire so it will stay on. Likewise, repeat that step for the other arm as well.

Step 9

Now drape the white plastic material or creepy cloth over the skull head. Make a slit for the head to push through. The opening for the head will be a little big so gather the extra plastic sheet in the back and use a piece of wire to twist it together. Alternatively, a creepy cloth is easy since you can just drape it over.

Step 10

Next, put the fishing line through the wire circle at the top of the skull. Tie a good knot and cut the line to the desired length to hang.

Step 11

Finally, choose a great spot to hang your cool ghost

#12 Wind Sock Ghost Easy DIY

Items Needed:

White plastic table cover

Scissors

Black material facial features or a black Sharpie to draw them on.

Hot glue gun and hot glue sticks

Plastic cup (kids cup and or a solo cup)

Plastic container (protein powder containers large and small size)

Drill or tool to make a hole in the top of container or cups

Fishing line or twine (a wooden or plastic bead is optional)

Steps to Make:

Step 1

First spray paint your plastic cups or containers white if they aren’t already white.

Step 2

Second use a drill or a skinny screwdriver or another tool to make a small hole in the top of the container or cup.

Step 3

Push your fishing line or twine through the hole and make a big knot inside the cup to keep it in place.  Use a bead inside the container or cup to ensure the knot won’t go through the hole.  This line or twine will be used to hang your ghost from the top of the head.

Step 4

Next, cut your tablecloth into long strips.  If you have it doubled up when cutting you can get your strips cut faster. Measure how long you want your strips hanging from your cups and containers and cut that length.

Step 5

Use the hot glue gun to attach the tablecloth strips to the inside rim of the container or cups.  Continue gluing them down all around the inside of the rim.

Step 6

Add on your facial features. 

Step 7

Finally, hang your cute ghost wind socks from a tree or where the wind will blow them around. As a result, these will be fun for kids to watch as they move and fly all around in the wind. Likewise, my pets have fun watching them too.

#13 Tiki Torch Ghosts

These can be fun in your backyard or wherever you want to place them.

Items Needed:

Tiki torches

White plastic table cover or white shower liner

Plastic planter or protein powder plastic container

Black sharpie, black duct tape, or black fabric facial features out of material

Steps To Make

Step 1

First put your tiki torch in the ground.

Step 2

Put a plastic pot on the top

Step 3

Cover the tiki torch with a round table cover or white plastic shower liner.

Step 4

Make your facial features either by drawing them on it or by attaching your black material with glue.

Step 5

You are finished unless you want to cut slits in the bottom of the white cover. As a result this will help the wind move your ghost.

• Caution! Most importantly do not plan to light the tiki torch when using it as a ghost. Obviously, the cover will be hiding the wick so you really can’t light it with it as a ghost. But if you were thinking of having the cover down under the wick it wouldn’t be good to light it as it will melt and may cause a fire.

#14  Chicken Wire Ghost

If you happen to have chicken wire or can get some they can make spooky ghost shapes.  I don’t have any chicken wire so I will skip making this one.

But you really just form your ghost with the wire and then add lights to it to create creepy ghost forms.

#15 Light up Ghost Garlands 

Items Needed:

White lantern ball lights or round/oval clear or white bulb lights

Black permanent marker

Steps to Make:

Step 1  

Use a black permanent marker to draw facial features on the balls.

Let your kids have fun with this and draw different facial expressions on each one.

Step 2 

Last hang your cute ghost garland on your porch or use it indoors for Halloween fun. 

All of these yard ghosts diy projects will keep your family busy decorating and having some fun preparing for Halloween.

Whether you decorate your house for fun or are planning a Halloween party these ghosts can help you add that fun touch.

Most importantly, this is a great way to create many great memories with your family by creating and making fun Halloween decorations together.  

Don’t miss out on family bonding opportunities like this.  Having fun with your family is the best part of decorating for Halloween.

Depending on your kids’ ages you can make cute fun ghosts to creepy scary ones.

We plan to create more fun diy Halloween yard decorations and will share those with you along with indoor diy Halloween decorations.

Be sure to have fun with your family this Halloween season by creating your cute or spooky yard ghosts diy.

​Last year our family made a haunted house for the neighborhood kids to come through.  I think a lot of these yard ghosts DIY Halloween decorations will be great to use this year.

So what are you waiting for? Gather your crafty items for your ghosts and get started.

In summary, these yard ghosts diy crafts are for you to enjoy making while interacting with your family and creating fun quality time with each other.

Don’t worry about spending tons of money on items, just look through your recycle bin and what you have around your house and get creative.

So have fun creating your yard ghosts diy projects with your family and let me know how they turn out.